Mechanically-operated figure toy



y 0- s. I. BERGER I MECHANICALLY OPERATED FIGURE TOY 2 sheets-sheet 1Filed April 18, 1927 amounted I TWMZBeIye/ ammo/5p @h jiw J /LAJ July15,:

S.- l. BERGER .MEGHANICALLY OPERATED FIGURE TOY Filed April 18. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwentoz e drummer. 7

player is preferablysecured rigidly to the Patented July 15, 1930 marinestares SAMUEL I. BERGER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY MECHANICALLY-O'PERATED-FIGURE TOY Application filed April 13,

My present invention relates to mechanical toys, and has a specificapplication to a toy representing a jazz band.

It is an object of the invention to provide 5 a mechanical toy of theabove type of simple construction readily manufactured, in quantityproduction at small expense, and which in operation will realisticallysimulate the action which it represents.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of thevarious'embodiments of the several features of the invention, Fig. 1 isa front perspective view of the toy, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with therear plate removed, Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views in longi tudinal sectionon the respective lines of Fig.

2, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the inverted device with thebottom removed.

In the drawings 1 have shown an elongated sheet metal casing 10representinga front wall including a benchior seat 11, end walls "12, arear wall 13, a bottom wall or floor 14, and a top-wall 15. Upon thebench I have shown. seated illustratively five musicians, the legs andbodies 16 of themusicians being embossed outward from the casing by theforming die operation and being unitarytherewith. The heads 18 of thefigures preferably extend through corresponding oval openingsl'? nearthe upper end of the casing. Each of. said heads is formed unitary witha support yoke 19, which has a pintle or pin 20 transverselytherethrough' carried by corresponding instruck tongues21 stamped fromthe front of the casing. 7

Each of thefigures also is provided with at least one movable arm, thetwo figures at 7 the extreme right illustratively having both of theirarms movable. Each of the arms is pivoted on a pin 22 in front of thecasing about which it'moves in operation.

Illustratively the five figures represent respectively, from left toright, a violinist, a saxophonist, a banjoist, a'cornetist, and a Theviolin 25 of the left hand body by soldering or otherwise, and to theright arm 26 of the performer. The bow 27 of the violinist is formed asa rigid part of 50 the right arm. The violin 25 is preferably 1927.Serial No. 184,570.

slit longitudinally at the string forming part to form a bridge 28 underwhich the bow 27 extends and by which it is retained in position,substantially as in my prior Patent No. 1,607,231 ofNovember 16, 1926.

The saxophonist includes a saxophone forming part 29, the mouth end ofwhich extends loosely through a corresponding opening 30 in the mouth ofthe figure and is enlarged at its'inner end at 31 to prevent separation. The right arm 32 of the saxophonist preferably grasps the shankof the instrument andis clasped thereto as at 33, while the end of theleft arm 84thas a tongue 35 extending through a'corresponding hole inthe instrument.

The banjo has a pair of slots, the upper or shorter one accommodating atongue 37 on the left arm 38 of the corresponding player figure, theright arm having a reversely bent tongue extending in a correspondingslot. The left arm of the 'cornetist similarly has a pivoted connect-ion44 at the lower part of the comet and the right arm has a similar pivotconnection 45 at the upper part of the comet. The mouth piece of theCornet is related to the head in the same manner as in the case of thesaxophone. The arms of the drummer are formed as integral .stampingswith the drum sticks 46. i V

The figures described are caused to operate by the mechanismnowto bedescribed, so as to simulate the playing of a' jazz band. Thismechanism'includes a spring motor of any suitable, more or lessconventional construction; f i

The motor is preferably secured between the end wall 12 and a crossbrace attached to the front and rear walls and serving to stiffenthecasing. Themotor comprises a drum ,51 having the usual. ratchet wheel 52at one endthereof restrained by pawl 52' and to which is anchored oneend of accoil spring 53 the other end of'which is anchored to a drivinggear 54 near thecross brace 50. Theratchet wheel is rigid with themounting axle 55 conformed as awinding key 56 at the outer end. i v

Parallel to the drum of the spring motor is an-operating shaft 57extending preferably ated with the driving gear 54 and comprises apinion with an associated gear 61 meshing with the pinion 62 on acountershaft'63 mounted in the cross brace. The pinion 62 has a gear 64meshing with the pinion 65 on the shaft 57 which in turn has a gear 66meshing with the pinion 67 on the countershaft. 7

The shaft 57 which is preferably at substantially the level of and infront of the spring drum, has a plurality of tappet arms 68: rigidlyafiixed thereto and aligned with therespeetive operating figures. Thesearms serve to move or oscillate the heads 18 of the figuresfor whichpurpose each of those players who have hand rather than mouthinstruments are provided with rigid metal strips or arms-.70 extendingdownward therefrom and normally resting on the hubs 71 of the respectivetap in arms.

The arms: 0 'the various figures are operahed from a: second shaft 73preferably direotly above the motor drum, said shaft having hearings inthe end walls and also in an upstanding fin 740i the cross brace. Tooperate the arms of the figures, links 75 are provided each having aneye encircling a correspomliing eccentric or crank 7 6 on the shaftaznd'hoesked at its opposite end into a correspending. opening 76 in therearwardly ex tending portion 77 ofthe arm. The shaft 73 driven by meansof a pinion 78 meshing with the driving gear, 54.

Preferably the outer end of shaft 57 has a thumb iece 79 by which it isheld against rotation during winding. When the windin'g notibn iscompleted and the thumb :piece is et go; the expansion of the sprin 53causes rotation ofi the'driving gear,retar ed by the vei aor gears 60to67. The shafts 57 and 4 are caused to rotate by their meshingrel'a tibitwith tihe driving gear 54. Shaft 57 in its rotationcauses each of itstappet arms intemiitbently to engage and push rearward the correspondingstrip thereby causing an the" head of the corresponding figure to nod ifto forward. As the tappet arm moves past the strip 70 thelatter wil'lreturn by gravity against the shaft causing the corresponding head toreturn to its original position. In ordertoihsure such return, each ofthe strips has "a fiorwardbendflotherein so that thecenhe of gravity ofthe pivoted mass of the head at! its pendent strip is so disposed as toeotfipel such gravity return. In a similar mamiee'the shaft 74 in itsrotation causes the link's175 tooseillate the arms of each of thefigllres thereby effecting the characteristic moyements of therespective musicians. Thehead's ofthe saxophonist and the cometistiaredevoidof any special tappet movement since by the movement of thecorresponding arms the movement of the associated musical instrumentwill cause the head to be drawn forward and rearward therewith, but yetpermit relative movements by virtue of the looseness between said parts.

The tappet arms 68 and the crank arms 76 are in such phase relation withrespect to each other as to simulate the movement of the players. Thusthe head of the violinist is preferably caused to bob backward prior tothe advance stroke of the bow and to return prior to the return strokeof the bow. The head of the banjoist is caused to advance prior to theplucking stroke on the instrument and the drummer is caused to move hissticks prior to the forward bobbing of the head. The various tappets andeccentrics are so correlated to each other that the head and armmovements of the various players do not occur in phase with each other.As a consequence, the effect of the toy is a realistic simulation of ajazz band.

While the toy has its preferred application for showing a jazz band itwill be un derstood that the mechanism and principle are applicable inother relations for simulating other actions.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in whichthe several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatusin its action attains the various objects of the invention and is wellsuited to meet the requirements of practical use. I

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense. j 1

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent'is-r Y i 1. A mechanical toy comprising acasing having openings therein, a shaft longitudinally of" said casing,a spring motor for drivingsaid shaft,a plurality of figures, the bodyportions at which are rigidly mounted on the exterior at the casing andthe heads of which are pivotally mounted in openings in said casing,said shaft having offsets and connections therefrom to-said heads tocause them to oscillate duringthe rotation of the shaft.

2. A mechanical toy com rising a casing, a

spring motor shaftlongituc inally of said casing, toy figures includingbody portions rigidly mounted on the exterior of the casing and headportions pivotally connected to said casingin side by side relation,tappetarms on Sillfil shaft and strips secured to the heads of saidfigures and intermittently displaced by said arms during the rotation ofthe shaft to cause the heads of said figures to oscillate.

3. A mechanical toy comprising a casing having openings therein, a shaftextending longitudinally thereof, a spring motor for revolving theshaft, a plurality of figureheads extending through said openings in thecasing and mounted for oscillating movement, metal strips rigid with theoscillating heads and tappets on the shaft to intermittently engage thestrips and causing said heads to oscillate, the exterior of the casinghaving toy bodies displayed thereon in operative relationship to themovable heads.

at. A mechanical toy comprising a casing, a shaft longitudinallytherethrough, a spring motor, the front wall of said casing having.

inturned ears, figures of heads each having a pintle pivoted in thecorresponding ears, strips rigid with the lower parts of said heads,said shaft having tappet arms intermittently engaging said strips tocause said heads to nod during the rotation of said shaft.

5. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of a casing, a shaftlongitudinally therethrough, a spring motor for driving said shaft, aplurality of figures the body portions of which are fixed to the frontwall of said casing, each of said figures having pivoted head element,said shaft having offsets and links connecting'said offset-s to saidpivoted head elementsvto cause the latter to oscillate during therotation of said shaft.

6. A mechanical toy comprising a casing, a spring motor therein, a pairof shafts longitudinally ofsaid casing, both driven from said springmotor, a plurality of toy figures exposed from the front of said casing,each of said toy figures having a movable head and another movable part,transmission means betweenone of said shafts, and said heads, andtransmission means between said other shaft and said other movableparts, said transmissionmeans-being out of phase rela tion with eachother. I I

7. A mechanical toy comprising the combi nation of a casing, a series offigures of musicians exposed from the front of said casing, eachhaving'a moving head and each having a a moving arm, a spring motorwithin said casing, a shaft longitudinally of said casing operated fromsaid motor, transmissions be tween said shaft and said heads causin thelatter to be intermittentlymoved thereby, a second shaft driven fromsaid motor and transmissionsfrom said second shaft to said arms to causethe latter to move out of phase relationship with said heads.

I 8. A mechanicaltoy comprising a casing, a-

group of figures of musicians exposed from the front of said'casing,each offsaid figures having a pivoted head, each of said figures alsohaving a pivoted arm carrying a'musical instrument, a shaft driven fromsaid motor and having ofi'-sets,and parts connectlng said heads withsaid ofi'sets for causing the heads tomove intermittently in therotation of the shaft, a second shaft driven from said motor andmechanical connection betweensaid sec- 0nd shaft and said arms to causethe latter to oscillate.

' 9. A mechanical toy comprising an elongated casing, a group of figuresof musicians exposed from the front of said casing, each of said figuresincluding a pivoted head, and. a pivoted arm carrying a musicalinstrument, aispring motor within said casing, a shaft near the front ofsaid casing and longitudinally thereof driven from said motor, eachofsaid heads having a metal strip, said shaft having tappetarms alignedwith said strips so, as to intermittently displace said strips in therotation of the shaft to cause said heads to nod, a second shaftlongitudinally of said casing above the motor and above said firstshaft, said shaft having offsets substantially instruments, others mouthinstruments, a

spring motor withinsaidcasing, transmissions from said motor, to each ofsaid figures, each of those figures with hand operf ated instruments,having two separate and distinct trans1nissions,-one toicause'the armand the other to cause the head of said figures to move, saidtransmissions being out of phase relation with each other.

11. A mechanical toy comprising incombination, a casing, a plurality offigures of musicians exposed from the front of said cas ing, each ofsaid figures including a pivoted head anda pivotedarnnsome of saidfigures including musical instruments connectedto said heads, a springmotor in saidcasing, a

pair of shafts longitudinally of said casing,

both driven from said motor, each ofsaid shaftshavingoffsets,transmissions between aid offsets and the respective armsto cause latter to o l t l i the p ration'or" 1* said motorand'simultaneously therewith to cause the heads of those figures, themusical instruments ofwhich are connected to the headsfto oscillatetherewith, and a transmis sion from the second shaft to the heads of theremaining figures to cause the latter to oscillate out of phaserelationship with the arms thereof. r

12. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of a casing, a pluralityof musician figures having their bodies rigid with the casing, each ofsaid figures having a pivoted head exposed through a correspondingopening in the casing, each of said figures having a pair ofpivoted armsexposed through the front wall of said casing and extendingrearwardltlierethrough, each of said arms having a-musical instrumentelement secured there- 5 to, some of said figures having thecorresponding musical instruments loosely extending throughithe mouth ofthe corresponding head, some ofsaid musical instruments having a lbosoconnection to the arms of the figures, m andi'a spring motor Within saidcasing having transmissions to saidfigures to cause the Mento simulatethe operation of a musical bmndl 7 13. A mechanicaltoy comprising thecom- 15 bination of a casing, a plurality of musician figures havingtheir bodies rigid With the cas- Lag, said figures having pivoted headsexthrough corresponding openings in the casing, each of said figureshaving a pair of pivoted arms exposed through the front wall of saidcasing and extending rearward therethrough, each of said arms having amusical instrument element secured thereto, some of said figures havingthe corresponding musical 95 instruments loosely extending through themoutli ofthe corresponding head, some of said musical instruments havinga loose connection to the arms of the figures, a spring motor withinsaid casing, a pair of shafts longitudinally of said casing operatedfrom stii motor, eccentrics on said shafts, connections from said headsto the eccentrics of one of mid shafts and other connections from saidarms to the eccentric parts of the other of said shafts, said partsbeing arranged in phase relations such as to simulate the movemeats-"ofmusicians.

, 14. A figure of a musical toy comprising a body, a head having a mouthopening and pivoted theret0,an arm independently pivoted thereto, amouth instrument loosely extending through the mouth opening of thehemd,and a means loosely pivotally connecting the arm to another part ofsaid instrumeiifland means for actuating the arm, eonnoetedto theinstrument.

d at Newark inthe county of Essex and tate of New Jersey this 15th dayof April A. D. 1927.

" SAMUEL I. BERGER.

